Re: Dichromated gelatin

Carson Graves x4692 3NE (carson@zama.hq.ileaf.com)
Wed, 5 Oct 94 08:40:04 EDT

> From: Philip Jackson <p.jackson@nla.gov.au>
>
> I've just come across two scientific articles on DCG and wonder whether
> they're relevant to choice of gelatin for the carbon process. I'm not a
> polymer chemist, but the question is, I suppose, whether molecular weight
> distribution is directly related to gel strength, and if so, if there is
> a specific gel strength (or Bloom rating) that is ideal for carbon.
> Determination of molecular weight distribution through gel
> permeation chromatography isn't something I'll be doing at home (:-),
> but on the other hand it's relatively easy to order gelatin with a
> specific bloom. Bloom ranges from about 50 to 300 representing soft
> and hard gelatin respectively.

For whatever it is worth, I discovered that 175 bloom gelatin gave the
best reticulation pattern for collotype plates. Doesn't help you, but
I thought it might be useful information for someone.

Carson Graves
carson@ileaf.com